Method for converting of warmth environment into mechanical energy and electricity

ABSTRACT

The compressor of high pressure ( 15 ) and the steam engine ( 20 ) are the heart of the method (device) for converting of warmth environment into mechanical energy and electricity. The compressor ( 15 ) acts as a concentrator of the environing heat and is adapted to create two thermal sources: a) the heat-positive (hot) source ( 11 ) due to the heat of compressed of an air, and b) the heat-negative (cold) source ( 40 ) due to of expansion of the compressed air. The steam engine ( 20 ), which is connected mechanically with compressor ( 15 ), produces rotational energy by dint of the transfer of heat from the hot source ( 11 ) to the cold source ( 40 ) by a low-boiling working body. Herewith, the low-boiling working body makes phase transition from a liquid state in vaporous state and back again. Freons, ammonia, ethane, etc., are used as the low-boiling working body. During of producing rotational energy, the device can also produce electricity, heat, cold, distilled water, and stores the energy in the form of a compressed air. This method will contribute to reducing the needs for hydrocarbon fuels.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 61/652,258, filed 2012 May 28 by the present inventor.

BACKGROUND

The method for converting of warmth environment into mechanical energy and electricity is related to field of renewable energy sources, but it has several advantages over other energy sources, as well as a number of useful functions.

Alternative energy sources such as solar cells and wind generators have significant limitations in their utilization. So, the solar cells aren't able to generate electricity at night and they significantly reduce the production of electricity in cloudy weather, hot weather, or due to lack of means which track and turn the solar panels after the Sun. Wind generators are generally installed in places where the wind blows often—on the coast line, on the high ground and away from settlements. However, in calm weather the wind generator is turning in useless expensive equipment. Consequently, in the places where wind blows flabbily or its gust reaches hurricane force, wind generators are not profitable for installation.

These limitations of solar and wind sources of power have lead to the fact that their users must have a reserve of electricity. For this reason they must have plenty of the storage batteries and increase the number of solar cells, or increase the power of wind generators. All this leads to a significant increase in the cost of the equipment and its maintenance, as well as it increases the timing of it payback. In addition, the above equipment for renewable energy requires a large area for its installation and it practically is not protected against the elements—hail and strong gusts of wind or a storm can damage them, or the solar panels and blades of wind generators can be even destroyed completely.

Geothermal power plants also are tied to a particular locality, as the cost of electricity generated by them is directly dependent on the depth of drilled wells, that is, his the cost depends from the depth of the hot layers. The cost electricity of geothermal power plants currently exceeds the cost of electricity generated at thermal and nuclear power plants.

Recently, due to high oil prices, more and more attention is paid to the development of alternative source energy such as biofuel. In 2007 the U.S. passed even the Law on Energy Security and there had been prepared the Program to reduce gasoline consumption by 20 percent over 10 years, by increasing the production of bioethanol. However, the energy-content of bioethanol is significantly lower than that of gasoline. And in the case of decreasing demand for gasoline the high price of oil will certainly go down. Thus, the more cheap and energy—intensive petrol will compete with biofuels again, as it was before.

In addition, the production of biofuel has two important problems. First, its production requires the large areas of the land for cultivation of raw materials, in fact, this is the fodder crops for beasts and fowls. According to economists for a single fueling car by biofuels (100 liters) it is required about 451 pounds of corn. This is food for one person in the “third world” for nearly a year. Thus, increasing the production of fodder crops for bioethanol, leads to the fact that the number of hungry people in the world will increase.

The second problem of bioethanol is that for its combustion in internal combustion engines it needs in oxygen. According to some projections, the serious lack of oxygen will be felt in 2050. Indeed, in 1860 the consumption of oxygen at the combustion for all kinds of fuel amounted to 1.3 billion tons, in 1960-12 billion tons, in 2000-57 billion tons, and in 2050 the consumption of oxygen will amount to 230 billion tons.

In addition, under the cultivation of raw materials for bioethanol are being cut down the rain forest, which are the “Lungs of the planet” and this violates the ecological balance of the environment. At present time it is marked depletion of atmospheric oxygen and there is increasing carbon dioxide in it. And lack of drinking water, which is also linked to environmental degradation, is already felt in various parts of the world.

“Konstantin Tsiolkovskiy worked over a complete transformation of heat into work. Tsiolkovskiy believed that there are processes in nature of concentrating the energy, that is, there are processes the inverse processes of scattering. Therefore, “it is obtained eternal cycle of matter”, the ever emerging one's early days of the Universe. To find the mechanisms that concentrate the energy, examine their and use to quench the energy hunger—the task was put by Tsiolkovskiy”. Prof. Gulia—energy capsule.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment the method for converting of warmth environment into electricity does not have the above disadvantages. The work principle of this method is based on the high isothermal compression of atmospheric air, with subsequent by the adiabatic expansion of its. In resulting the flow of warmth is compacted (concentrated) and two thermal sources are formed: a) a heat-positive source (hot source), at the expense of heat the compressed air, and b) a heat-negative source (cold source), at the expense of adiabatic expansion its. The temperature difference between the hot and cold sources is used for producing rotational energy by dint of a steam-engine working at a low-boiling working body (freons, ammonia, ethane, etc.).

ADVANTAGES

Accordingly several advantages of one or more aspects are as follows: to provide by electricity of users regardless of time of day and location of their, that is relatively inexpensive, as there is no necessity to reserve electricity for the future and consequently, there is no necessity to have plenty of storage-batteries, that can be covered in a safe place from the destruction by the elements.

In additional the device, which uses method for converting of warmth environment, has a number of useful functions: a) the device can be used as an engine, for example, to boats and yachts, b) it is possible to use the heat of the compressed air for space heating and a hot water supply, c) it is possible to use the exhaust cold air for freezing and refrigerating grocery chambers, as well as for air-conditioning rooms, d) it is possible getting the distilled water, e) it is possible to use the compressed air for the air-equipment or for air-conditioning salon of the electromobile.

DRAWING—FIGURES

The file of this patent contains at least one color drawings. Copies of the patent with color drawings will be provided by the PTO upon payment of necessary fee.

FIG. 1 shows Scheme of the device as hardware based of the method for converting warmth of environment into mechanical energy and electricity.

FIG. 2 shows a lateral cross-section view of the basic engine 20 for two cylinders, at whole.

FIG. 3 shows a lateral cross-section view of the system intake—exhaust of the basic engine (steam engine) 20.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the exhaust system of the basic engine 20, in parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIRST EMBODIMENT

One embodiment of the method for converting of warmth environment into mechanical energy and electricity is illustrated in the FIG. 1 (Scheme):

-   -   11 The heat-positive source (steam-generator, hot         heat-exchanger); steam-generator has a design of vertical type         and provides heating, steam separation and overheating of the         working body (freon, ammonia, etc.), tubes finned copper. The         input of heat is carried by hot water from the top; movement of         hot water and working body is towards each other. The         steam-generator has a good thermal insulation.     -   12 The heat-exchanger is itnended for removal of a superfluous         heat and also for hot water supply or premises heating; by         design: a) for hot water and heating—plate-type, b) to dissipate         heat—radiator-type.     -   13 The heat-exchanger is used for heat removal from the         compressed air and each stages of compressor of high pressure         15, the tubular type; motion of the liquid cooling and the air         is to meet each other; heat-exchanger has receivers for         separating moisture and it must have a good thermal insulation.     -   14 Moisture removal from system of the compressed air (trap).     -   15 The compressor of high pressure is used for compression of an         atmospheric air not less than 200 bars; compressor must have         three and more stages with a liquid cooling and the same degree         of compression; it must have good thermal insulation.     -   16 The injector is intended for injection of a low-boiling         working body in the pipeline with a vaporous body for pressure         decline, at necessary.     -   17 The pump and the control valve (throttle) is used for         circulation of a cooling liquid; construction any.     -   18 The pump is used for swapping of a liquid low-boiling working         body; in this embodiment, the pump has two independent plungers.         To prevent leakage of working body (freon) the pump is built         into the motor housing.     -   19 The condensing turbine is located in the motor housing.     -   20 The basic engine (the steam-engine) is used for producing of         rotational energy and which is adapted for work with a         low-boiling working body (freons, ammonia, etc.); detailed         description below.     -   21, 26 The starting-regulating equipment.     -   22 The transmissions of the compressor (15) and the basic engine         (20) are disconnectable by mechanically; in this embodiment the         transmissions are V-belts with tensioning rollers.     -   23 The flywheel with a general shaft which is connected with the         compressor of high pressure (15), the pump of cooling system         (17), the basic engine (20), and, as with a detander (28) and         the electric generator (33) by dint of transmissions (22, 29).         The weight and size of the flywheel depend on the power of         device and cost savings.     -   24 The regenerative heat-exchanger is intended for preliminary         heating of a liquid low-boiling working body and overcooling of         the compressed air; it is tubular type; the motion flows are         towards each other; the material—copper.     -   25 The additional air equipment, including radiators, allows to         use the cold air for freezing and refrigerating chambers,         air-conditioning of premises and reception of the distilled         water; they are similar to air conditioning and refrigeration         equipment.     -   27 The balloon of high pressure is intended for reserve of the         compressed air.     -   28 The air-turbine (detander) is used for producing of         rotational energy due to the energy of the compressed air and         for its low cooling, as well as to start the system in work.     -   29 The mechanical transmissions, in this embodiment are V-belts.     -   30 The electric starter with mechanism is used for starting the         system in operation.     -   31 Power takeoff shaft.     -   32 The air fan is used for blowing of radiator (34) with the hot         air from the generator (33).     -   33 The electrical DC generator, in this embodiment—U=24 v.     -   34 The air radiator is intended for preliminary heating of a         low-boiling working body at the expense of warmth environment         and the hot air from the electric generator (33); the         material—copper.     -   35 The converter converts from DC to AC (if necessary).     -   36 Storage batteries are intended to supply by electricity of         users during the device stop, to smoothing of peak loadings at         consumption of electricity, and for a food of the electric         starter when starting the system in operation.     -   37 The control valve (throttle) is intended for step expansion         of the compressed air and regulation of temperature in the cold         heat-exchanger (40).     -   38 The heat-exchanger is intended for preliminary cooling of a         low-boiling working body; the material—iron, copper; design is         horizontal or vertical.     -   39 The heat-exchanger is intended for condensation of a         low-boiling working body; the material—iron, copper; design is         horizontal or vertical.     -   40 The heat-negative source (the cold heat-exchanger or the         condenser) which receives the low cooled air and this promotes         the condensation of a low-boiling working body (freon); the         heat-negative source has a good the thermal insulation of your         body.

41 The bypass line and protector.

FIGS. 2, 3, 4 Detailed Description Basic Engine

FIG. 2 shows a lateral cross-sectional view of the basic engine 20, in whole. The two-cylinder engine with arrangement connecting rod necks under 180 degrees has been taken as initial design, that allows:

(a) To apply a simple and sealed system intake-exhaust for a low-boiling working body, that is operated with help of pistons.

(b) To use ball-bearings and to support a constant volume of space under pistons.

(c) To apply the radial scheme layout of cylinders that allows making the compact engine with high specific capacity and well protected from leaks of freon.

FIG. 3 shows a lateral cross-sectional view of the system intake-exhaust of the engine 20.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the exhaust system of the basic engine 20, in parts.

The volume above the piston at top dead center is about 10-15 percent of the total volume cylinder. The motion of the exhaust valve is about 5-7 mm. The motion of the intake valve (the ball) is about 1-2 mm. The discharge orifice, which is intended to removing a residual pressure in the cylinder, is at the bottom dead center. In this aspect of embodiment the design speed the engine shaft is about 2000 revolutions per minute.

As the basic engine 20 it is possible using and other kinds of engine, for example: Wancel's engine, a turbine, etc., which are adapted for work with a low-boiling working body (freons, ammonia, ethane, etc.).

Operation—as Hardware Based of the Method

The method for converting of warmth environment into rotational energy and electricity, which includes the compressor of high pressure and steam-engine, can be considered in terms of a heat exchange between the three, speaking conditionally, cycles: the air cycle, the heat removal system and cycle with a low-boiling working body.

Air Cycle

In basis of the air cycle (on the Scheme it is colored blue) is a compressor of high pressure 15 which is to compress the air not less than 200 bar, thus it concentrates warmth of the environment and increases temperature of the compressed air more than 200° C. (392° F.). Selection of the heat from the compressed air is carried out in two stages. At first the heat is removed by dint of the cooling liquid into the hot source 11, thus the compressed air is cooled to environment temperature about 300° K. (27° C. or 81° F.). Then in the regenerative heat-exchanger 24 the warmth is removed from the compressed air by dint of a cold low-boiling working body.

When overcooling the compressed air in heat-exchanger 24 one must take in to account the critical temperature of Oxygen, which is minus 118 degrees Celsius (−180° F.). If the compressed air will be supercooled to this temperature, then Oxygen becomes a liquid state, and thus it can disrupt the work of the system on the whole, in the given variant of embodiment. Critical temperature of Nitrogen is minus 147° Celsius (−33° F.).

After the heat-exchanger 24 the overcooled compressed air is directed though the control valve 26 into the detander 28, where it makes work, expands adiabatically and cools to temperature about minus 180 degrees Celsius (−292° F.). Adiabatic expansion—this is a process without heat exchange with the environment. Then the cold air goes to the cold heat-exchanger 40. To regulation temperature of a low cold in the cold heat-exchanger 40 there is the control valve 37, that is, he is intended for stepwise expansion of the compressed air.

Having selecting of warmth from the low-boiling working body in the condenser 40, still the cold air is directed to additional heat-exchangers 25 where the residual cold is used for freezing and refrigerating chambers and conditioning of premises. Then the fulfilled air is dumped in atmosphere or, if it is the heated-up enough, is directed back to the compressor of high pressure 15.

The productivity of the compressor 15, and consequently the whole system, is regulated by changing the rotational speed of the compressor shaft through a gearbox or a variator (on the Scheme is not shown).

The multistage compressor 15 must have three or more stages and a liquid system of cooling. The selection of the heat is produced from each stages of the compressor 15, and this also provides the isothermal process of compression of an air.

It is known that the most effective isothermal process of compression of gases will take place if all the stages of the multistage compressor have the same degree of compression (increase in pressure). Isothermal process—temperature is constant. In this case the total work, that is spent to compress the gas, will be minimal. However, if you compress the air strongly, this greatly increases its heat capacity. As a result the last stage of the high pressure compressor will heat up more than the first one. Thanks to the liquid cooling system the problem of overheating the last stage of the compressor will be eliminated. This fact should be keep in mind when is creating a working samples.

The balloon of high pressure 27, which also relates to the air cycle, is used as an additional accumulator of energy in the form of the compressed air. This energy can be used for starting the system (device) in operation after its shutdown, as well as to maintain the required temperature in the cold heat-exchanger 40, in freezing and refrigerating chambers, and for air-conditioning of premises while until the basic engine 20 and the compressor 15 does not work due to lack of demand for energy.

To reference. So the ten cubic meter of an air of compressed to 200 bars (50 liter balloon) can too contain the reserve of cold about 36 370 kilojoule or minus 10 kWh of warmth.

When compressing atmospheric air by dint of the compressor 15 a condensate of moisture is formed condensate in the air system, which must be removed by the trap 14.

To avoid loss of a cold and freezing of equipment the cold heat-exchanger 40 and pipelines are to be thermally insulated well.

To avoid a heat loss the compressor 15 and hot parts of pipelines with the compressed air are to be thermally insulated also.

Thus, the air cycle performs function like the concentrator of warmth environment (compaction of warmth flow) and is intended for creating two of thermal sources: the heat-positive (hot) source 11 and the heat-negative (cold) source 40, which have the difference of temperature about 400° K. (700° F.).

System Removal Heat

The system removal of the heat, that is applied in the device (on the Scheme it is colored red), is similar to known systems of cooling and detailed description does not demand. The cooling system is used for fullest the heat removal from the steps of compressor 15 and from the compressed air 13 in the hot heat-exchanger 11, and it, as it was already marked, provides effective process of isothermal compression of air and reduces of energy expenses for the compressor of high pressure 15.

Depending on operating conditions the water or antifreeze is used as a cooling liquid. The system removal of the heat includes an additional heat-exchanger 12 for heat removal on the hot water supply and heating of premises, as well as to disperse of the superfluous heat into environment, if necessary.

The pump 17 of the system cooling is connected to the total shaft 23. The control valve of the pump 17 is intended for changing a flow speed of a cooling liquid and for changing temperature difference at the input and output of the hot heat-exchanger 11.

To avoid the heat loss all the hot parts of pipelines of the cooling system are to be thermally insulated well.

It is necessary to mean that freons, which are used in this embodiment as a low-boiling working body, can not to withstand the high temperature (above 250° C. or 482° F.), therefore if one try to use the cooling of the compressor 15 with help their, this will have the negative consequences.

Low-Boiling Cycle

The cycle with a low-boiling working body (on the Scheme it is colored green) represents Mayer's cycle and it is working with substances freezing point of which is minus 80° C. (−76° F.) and more low. These substances include such as freons, ammonia, ethane, etc. In the given variant of embodiment the freon is used as a low-boiling working body.

In liquid state the freon is located in the cold heat-exchanger 40 whence it is pumped in the steam-generator 11 by the pump 18, in two directions: a) through the recuperative heat-exchanger 24, and b) through the air radiator 34. The recuperative heat-exchanger 24 is intended for preliminary heating of a liquid freon and overcooling of the compressed air, that essentially increases efficiency for all process of converting of warmth environment into rotational energy and electricity.

The air radiator 34 is intended also for preheating of the liquid freon at the expense of a heat from the working generator 33 and environment. The additional heating of the freon allows to compensate the loss of heat, which are occurring in the cold heat-exchanger 40 while working steam-engine 20.

The part of a flow of the cold liquid freon can be used for dehydration of the compressed atmospheric air in the compressor 15 (on the Scheme is not shown).

In the hot heat-exchanger 11 the pre-heated freon is heated to temperature from 60 to 70 degrees Celsius (from 140° F. to 158° F.), turns into steam and at pressure about 20 to 30 bars through the pressure regulator 21 goes to the steam machine (basic engine) 20. Having made the work, the freon is being cooled to temperature near zero degrees of Celsius (32° F.), and goes to the condenser 40, where it is being cooled to a liquid state. Then it is pumped over in the heat-exchanger 11 for heating again.

The body of steam-engine 20 must be heated to prevent cooling and condensing low-boiling working body (on the Scheme is not shown).

The steam-generator 11 and condenser 40 can be as tubular type as lamellar type, with vertical or horizontal an arrangement. These heat-exchangers, as well as all system of a low-boiling cycle, must have the necessary strength and withstand a pressure of at least 40 bars.

To regulate the pressure of the vapor freon there is the injector 16 with which help a cold freon is injected in a steam line in front of the basic engine 20.

The bypass line 41 is intended for dumping the vapor of freon into the condenser 40 and the environment in a emergency.

The pump 18, which is used for pumping the liquid freon, must also withstand the same pressure (40 bars), and his design can be piston, a gear wheel, rotational or spiral.

To prevent freon leaks the pump 18 must be installed in the body of basic engine 20.

To accelerate the condensation of freon and reduce the sizes of the cold heat-exchanger 40 the condenser turbine 19 is installed additionally.

Starting in Work

The system (device) is run to the work by means of the electric starter 30 and air turbine 28. To facilitate the device starting the load must be removed from the power take-off shaft 31. The compressor 15 and basic engine 20 must be disconnected from the general shaft 23. For this purpose there are disconnectable transmissions 22. The electric generator 33 must be disconnected from the network. The control valve 26 of turbine 28 is switched to the starting mode.

After the flywheel 23 will have been untwisted the compressor 15 is connected to the general shaft 23 through the transmission 22. The compressed air begins to go into the turbine 28 from the compressor 15. Next, the compressed air goes into the cold heat-exchanger 40, which begins to cool. The heat from the compressed air begins to heat steam generator 11. When the pressure reaches a minimum value (from 6 to 8 bars), and the difference in temperature between heat-exchangers 11 and 40 is 60-70° C., the basic engine 20 must be connected to the general shaft 23. The starter 30 is disconnected. After the system (device) will be entered to the working mode (pressure about 25 bars) by dint of the basic engine 20. Next, the electric generator 33 is connected to a network, and a load is connected to the power take-off shaft 31. The air turbine 28 returns to normal mode of the work by dint of the gate 26.

The electric starter 30 can be connected both to accumulators 36, and to an extraneous source of electric energy.

Sometimes, before you start the system in the work, you may have to preheat the steam-generator 11. But, if ambient temperature around will make near 25 degrees Celsius (77° F.) the basic engine 20 can be started in work, after the cold heat-exchanger 40 will have been cooled to minus 40 degrees Celsius (−40° F.).

The working mode of the device (system) roughly is following:

-   -   the freon pressure is about from 20 to 30 bars;     -   the temperature at the input to the steam-generator 11 makes         from 60 to 80 degrees Celsius (from 140° F. to 176° F.);     -   the temperature at the input to the condenser 40 makes from         minus 160° C. to minus 180° Celsius (from −56° F. to −292° F.).

After charting the accumulator batteries 36 from the generator 33 and filling the balloon 27 from the compressor 15 the device (system) can be stopped by dint of the pressure regulator 21 and disconnectable transmission 22.

The subsequent starting the device (system) in operation is performed proceeding from following conditions:

-   -   There is a decrease in the temperature to the minimum         established value in the steam generator (hot heat-exchanger)         11.     -   There is a rise in temperature up to maximum established value         in the cold heat-exchanger (condenser) 40.     -   There is the discharge of accumulator batteries below admissible         level.     -   There is a drop in pressure in the balloon of high pressure 27         to minimum established level.     -   There is an increase in load in the network or the needs of the         mechanical energy.

The required temperature level in the steam-generator 11 and the condenser 40 users are installing proceeding from the operating conditions.

To restart the system (device) in the work at first, it will be necessary untwist the flywheel 23 by electric starter 30 or air turbine 28, open the regulator 21 and then connect transmissions 22.

The system can be equipped with a device for automatic control of work, starting and stopping.

Thermal Design

Thermal design for process of converting warmth of environment into mechanical energy and electricity is performed in three stages.

Stage One. The calculation of the amount of heat energy which can be derived during isothermal compression ten cubic meters (10 m³) of atmospheric air to 200 bars.

Isothermal process of compression of air—this is a process in which temperature of the air coming to compressor of high pressure from environment corresponds to temperature of the same air, but under pressure 200 bars, that is, the temperature is constant. For simplification of calculations it is necessary to take conditionally, that the ambient temperature to be about 300 degrees Kelvin (27° C. or 81° F.).

In the transition from a fossil fuel to low-potential heat of environment it is necessary to install some kind of parity in the process consumption of energy between the amount of heat by burning one liter of fossil fuel (kerosene) and the amount of the air which must be compressed to 200 bars to get the same the amount of heat from his compression.

Baseline data for this can be taken from textbook “Total Heat Engineering”, by G. Alekseev, edition 1980 High School, Moscow, Section 73:

-   -   the amount of calories by combustion one liter of kerosene is         37,000 kJ;     -   the amount of calories by combustion one liter of kerosene into         an air, which was compressed to 200 bars, is equally 630 kJ;     -   the density of kerosene is 0.86 kg/a liter, and the air density         at an ambient temperature equal 300° K. (27° C. or 81° F.) is         about 1.293 kg/m³.

When combusting of one liter kerosene into the compressed air (200 bars) almost all the derived heat will have been taken away by the compressed air during his expansion: 37,000 kJ-630 kJ=36,370 kJ.

It is known that for complete combustion of one kg liquid fuel it is required about 15 kg of air. Respectively, for the complete combustion of one liter of kerosene it is required 12.9 kg of air (0.86 kg×15=12.9 kg), or about 10 m³ of air (12.9 divided by 1.29 get 10).

According to the Law of Conservation of Energy it can be concluded that at the isothermal compression 10 m³ of air to 200 bars is obtained about 36.370 kJ of the heat energy, because the compressed air (200 bars) takes away from one liter of kerosene same the amount of heat while it is burning.

Thus, we have established some kind of parity heat between one liter of the fossil fuel (kerosene) and 10 m³ of the air of compressed to 200 bars. Because 3600 kJ is equal one kWh, then 36370 kJ is 10 kWh (36370 divided by 3600 get 10 kWh), that in turn corresponds to the amount of heat from the combustion of a liter of kerosene, or to the amount of the heat that we receive of 10 m³ of the air during compression it to 200 bars. That is, when compressing of 10 m³ of the air to 200 bars we be able to receive about 10 kWh of the heat energy.

For reference. The mechanical equivalent of the heat equals to 1 kcal=4.19 kJ=427 kg×m. That is, by heating 1 kg (a liter) of water by 1° K. (or 1° C.) it is necessary to spend 4.19 kJ of heat, which is equivalently to lifting of the load weighting 427 kg to a meter.

Stage Two. Calculation of the amount of energy, which is expended by the compressor 15 during the isothermal compression of 10 m³ of the air to 200 bars.

The amount of mechanical energy, which is expended for isothermal compression of air to 200 bars, can be calculated on the basis of the technical characteristics of the real compressor of high pressure, for example, for diving with some elaborations (conditions). Like the compressor from Italian company “Coltri-Sab”—MCH 13/SH has three-stage compression, single-phase electric motor power 4 kW and operates with a productivity 13 m³ of air per hour. The working pressure is 250 bars. The compressor shaft is rotated at a rate of 1350 rpm.

The following important conditions must be considered in the calculations:

a) The calculation of the energy, that consumes the compressor 15, is produced for pressure to 200 bars.

b) Transmission of compressor 15 is directly connected to the common shaft 23, that is, there is no loss of energy in electric engine, which can take up to 20% of its power.

c) The compressed air, which produces the work in detander 28, returns a portion of the mechanic energy back to compressor 15 via a common shaft 23.

Accordingly, it can be argued that the power consumption by compressor 15, which is used in this embodiment, can be reduced by from 30% to 40% of the indicated engine power (4 kW) and will be about 2.5 kW at the shaft.

Having worked for an hour, subject to the above conditions, the compressor of high pressure Coltri-Sab literally squeezes out of the environment 13 kWh of the heat energy, consuming about 2.5 kWh of mechanical energy at the same time, or 10 kWh of heat energy for 46 minutes (¾ of hour) and herewith it consumes about 1.8 kWh of mechanical energy.

The coefficient of the use of heat in this case is 5.2 (13 kWh divided by 2.5 kWh get 5.2).

But that's not all. It is also necessary to take into account the fact that the compressor for diving has been constructed so, that when it is working, it must ensure uniform heating of all the working cylinders, because it uses air cooling. But the uniform heating the cylinders (stages) of the compressor high pressure can be obtained only at the expense of the non-uniform compression (increase in pressure) of air in the cylinders, what in turn leads to additional consumption of energy.

If one to eliminate the uneven compression of air in the compressor 15 and ensure effective the heat remove, it is possible will increase factor of the use of heat to 6 or more.

Thus, calculations show that if you will compress isothermally 10 m³ of air to 200 bars, then the amount of heat energy will be around 10 kWh. At the same time, compressor of high pressure will consume about 1.6 kWh of mechanical energy. (10 kWh divided by 6 get 1.6 kWh). In accordance with the Law of Conservation of Energy the system (device) will produce the same quantity of cold energy (−10 kWh).

The theoretical coefficient of the use of heat for the heat pump is equal 5.2 (textbook “General Heat Engineering”, by G. Alekseev, Section 24). This means that by using the heat pump the heating system receives a heat by 5.2 times greater, than in case when an expended energy (mechanical, electrical, etc.) is directly converted into heat.

Stage Three. Obtaining additional of the amount of heat-positive and heat-negative energy to increase the efficiency of this method (embodiment).

As noted above, that when compressing of air to 200 bars, on every kilowatt of mechanical power, which is expended by the compressor of high pressure 15, the system (device) can produce nearly 6 kW of thermal energy at the expense of warmth environment. However, about half of this thermal energy will be lost in the cold-exchanger 40 during its converting into mechanical energy by the steam engine 20 (Encyclopedia for Children, volume 14 “Technology”, Section “Matter and Energy”, page 254, edition 2000).

To compensate this heat loss in the cold exchanger 40 and increase efficiency of method (device) for converting of warmth environment into mechanical energy, it is necessary additionally to attract warmth from environment in the hot heat-exchanger 11. For this purpose the liquid freon should be used as the cold source towards environment.

The temperature of freon after performance of the work in the steam engine 20 is about zero degrees Celsius (32° F.). Temperature of liquid freon after cold-exchanger 40 is from −45° C. to −55° C. (−65° F.), and the ambient temperature, as noted, is 300° K. (27° C. or 81° F.). Therefore, before the liquid freon will be in the hot-exchanger 11, it can be warmed to temperature from 10° C. to 15° C. (50° F.) at the expense of the warmth of the compressed air (heat-exchanger 24) and due to the heat from generator 33 (radiator 34), which is cooled by the surrounding air. The amount of warmth, which is in the compressed air (200 bars), is quite a lot, because its coefficient of heat capacity has increased significantly.

In addition, when supercooling the compressed air in heat-exchanger 24 by cold freon the cold-exchanger (cold source) 40 gets more cold. Thus, there is complete compensation of heat losses in the cold-exchanger 40 when working the steam engine 20, because the system receives an additional heat and cold. In this connection, coefficient of using of heat is increased to 10 and more.

Ultimately, the thermal design for the method, which converts the warmth of environment into mechanical energy and electricity, is as follows:

a) this embodiment (or system) consumes one kW of the mechanical power to compress about 6.5 m³ of air;

b) the system produces about 10 kW of the heat power (of them 3.5 kW of heat power are attracted additionally);

c) the steam engine 20 produces about 5 kW of the mechanical power (50% is lost);

d) one kW (out of 5 kW) of the mechanical power is returned to compressor 15;

e) at the output we have about 4 kW of the excess mechanical power, or 2.5 kW of electrical power (coefficient of transforming into electricity is about 60%).

Thus, this device (method) can produce the electric energy at the expense of the low-potential warmth of environment without using any fossil fuel.

More accurate data may be obtained after building and tasting of the real model for this embodiment, which is able to convert warmth of environment into work.

Additional data, which confirm the above mentioned calculations, may be got from the same textbook “Total Heat Engineering” by G. Alekseev, Section 73, table 4-12 “Energy-content Heat-Negative Accumulators of the Heat”. There inter alia is approved that when heating one kg of oxygen from 30° K. (−243° C. or −405° F.) to 300° K. (27° C. or 81° F.) one will have to spend 7900 kJ of heat. In our case when heating 12.9 kg of air (10 m³) the amount of heat will be 101910 kJ or 28.3 kWh (12.9×7900 kJ=101910 kJ, and 101910 divided by 3600 get 28.3 kWh). Herewith, the heat capacity of oxygen is 29.3 kJ×kg/K.

Based on the Low of Conservation of Energy this means that when cooling 12.9 kg (10 m³) of air from 27° C. (81° F.) to −243° C. (−405° F.) one will have to remove nearly 28 kWh of heat energy. But during isothermal compression of 12.9 kg the air to 200 bars we were able to get only about 10 kWh of heat energy, that is, nearly one-third.

While the thermal design was made based on physical data of oxygen, the thermal design by an air will be little different from above, because the physical properties of nitrogen do not differ much from oxygen.

The graph 4.4. (Section 73, “Total Heat Engineering”) shows the decrease of temperature during adiabatically expansion of the gases.

These data clearly show how many of the low-potential energy is contained in the surrounding air, which is constantly heated by the Sun.

The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that the heat will be transformed into the work in full if temperature of refrigerator (cold source) will be equal to absolute zero (−273° C. or −459° F.). Therefore, the closer the temperature of refrigerator (cold source 40) will be close to absolute zero, the higher the efficiency of the heat machine (steam engine 20).

Findings of the Thermal Design

The amount of the heat produced by burning of one liter of the fossil fuel (kerosene) corresponds to the amount of heat as a result of compression 10 m³ of air to 200 bars, and this is nearly 10 kWh of heat energy.

When compressing 6.5 m³ of air to 200 bars by compressor 15 the device using the method for converting of warmth environment into work produces about 5 kW of mechanical power or 2.5 kW of electrical power. At the same time, the compressor of high pressure 15 consumes about one kW of mechanical power.

For reference. From the technical characteristics of the diesel power plant it is known that during the production of 5 kWh of electrical energy, you have to spend at least 1.83 liter of the diesel fuel, or from each liter of the fuel you get 2.73 kWh of electrical energy.

This roughly corresponds to the calculations (2.5 kW) for this embodiment which uses warmth of environment to convert it into electricity, with only the difference being that users will not spend money to buy of the fossil fuel. In additional, also there is no need to burn oxygen and pollute our environment to get a clean energy in the form of electricity.

Thus, when using this embodiment (method), which converts the warmth of environment into the work, it may reduce the dependence from the fossil fuel. This is also consistent with the Program for decrease of consumption of gasoline and with Law on Energy Security of the United State, which was adopted in 2007.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

Accordingly, the reader will see that the method (device) for converting of warmth environment into mechanical energy of the various embodiments can give the opportunity their owners to use electricity independently of time of day and season at the expense of the gratuitous low-potential warmth of environment. Possessing mobility the device can be used in any places providing by electricity of consumers for own needs, including for charge of an electric car which began to force out more and more cars with an internal combustion engine recently. Non-polluting and affordable electric energy will promote to the development of ecological transport. This will reduce the demand for hydrocarbon fuel, and it will influence positively on the human environment.

Furthermore, the device has additional useful functions in that: /

-   -   it can be used as an engine, for example, on the boots and         yachts; there are possibility to connect to the shaft of power         take-off such equipment as compressor for diving, a water pomp,         a load-lifting equipment, processing machine tools, etc.;     -   it permits to use the energy of the compressed air for a         pneumatic tools, and a balloon of high pressure to use for         air-conditioning salon of electric car for purpose of         electricity economy;     -   it permits to use a heat for a hot water supply and a space         heating;     -   it permits to use a cold for freezing and refrigerating grocery         chambers, and for air-conditioning of premises;     -   it permits to get the distilled water.

At home the device can be used as an uninterruptible power supply by electrical energy.

The additional useful functions are determined by users depending of specific conditions. The need in the cold is increased in a hot climate; on the contrary in a cold climate warmth is the priority factor.

As to the relation to business, this device, which converts warmth of environment, can be used as the independent power plants for additional charge of electric cars at filling stations.

When using the device in the diligent artels, for example, at gold mining, it is possible to lower essentially expenses on its extraction and thus to raise profitableness of manufacture. This is especially true now when the price of this precious metal is high enough.

You can also reduce the cost of seafood in the process of their extraction, transportation and refrigeration, if the offered device will be adapted as the engine on the fishing vessels.

All of the above utility functions can be realized heave ho with the installation of this embodiment on the yacht, which makes a long journey visiting the high and low latitudes. For travel on such yacht it is not required a single gram of fuel, which occupies a significant place on it. This yacht will be provided with comfortable conditions in the tropical zone swimming, because there are plenty of cold. There will also be created good conditions for food storage and a constant supply of fresh water in abundance, including the hot water. If desired, users can enjoy scuba diving. For filling of cylinders with the compressed air, it can be taken out of a balloon of high pressure, if there are air filters for its fine cleating. The yacht will be provided round the clock by electricity for cooking and for navigation equipment and communication channels. When the yacht will be moving to the high latitudes, the device can be easily adapted to new conditions. The heat from working compressor can be used for heating and hot water supply, and excess cold will is discharged into the sea. When installing this embodiment on the yacht the air cycle can be switched to a closed way of work and the low-potential warmth will be taken from sea water. So, engine for yacht with a power of 80 kW (100 hp) must have the compressor with a productivity of about 130 m³ of air per hour. The dimensions of such compressor of high pressure is substantially less than the volume occupied by diesel fuel and a reserve of drinking water, that sometimes makes up a quarter of the weight of the yacht.

Another interesting variant—it is embodiment (device) installed on a submarine. Such submarine will have the autonomy which will enable for her to be under water for a long time, limited only by the number of food for the crew. All other necessary conditions for life support, including oxygen, can be created on board with the help of equipment. The energy for the equipment is taken from sea water, and cold is discharged back into the sea. Human waste is converted also on the board of submarine into environmentally friendly waste and then they are dumped in the sea.

While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiment but as merely providing illustrations of some of several embodiments. Many other ramifications and variations are possible. For example, the use of Wankel's engine or a steam turbine is as the basic engine 20. The variant of an embodiment with the additional compressor of a low pressure for a low-boiling working body for improvement of process condensations is possible. As the low-boiling working body can be used substances such as ammonia, ethane, methane, etc.

Thus the scope of the embodiment should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather by the examples given. 

I claim:
 1. A method for converting of low-potential warmth of environment into mechanical energy by using an air compressor of high pressure, comprising: (a) providing said air compressor of high pressure for many step compression of an atmospheric air and which is fitted for creation of hot and cold energy sources, and (b) providing a steam engine for producing rotational energy which is connected to said compressor of high pressure and which is adapted for work on a low-boiling working body using temperature difference between said hot and cold energy sources, whereby, said steam engine will produce rotational energy in quantity essentially bigger than energy expended for work said compressor of high pressure without using any other energy, in addition to the low-potential warmth of environment. 